Author: Ann

Okay, so your quilt top is finally finished and you need to create backing and binding for it. I did an earlier post on how much fabric you’ll need, so this part isn’t particularly difficult. The hardest part is picking your fabric. Given that the top of this quilt is pretty simple — two colors,…

In my last post, we went over how to make a pinwheel block. Once you’ve made all 105 of those and cut out your 184 solid blocks, all that’s left is to assemble your quilt top. Every quilt pattern I’ve ever read has had instructions on how to assemble a quilt top, and what I’ve…

The beauty of the Pinwheel Quilt is that it is so simple. There are only two kinds of squares in the pinwheel quilt — the pinwheel block, and the white square block. In this post, you’ll learn how to create the pinwheel block using a method that is easy and creates great results every time. The…

As you may know, there are three parts (not including batting) to each quilt: quilt top, quilt backing, and quilt binding fabric. Below is a detailed explanation of how I calculate yardage needs for the pinwheel quilt (as well as general calculation methods I use for all quilts). I know it’s not thrilling reading, but if…

Now that you’ve researched the different quilt sizes and made a decision on what size meets your needs, the next step is to make a few decisions about how to lay out your quilt top. Since our first quilt is the pinwheel quilt pictured to the right, we will use the basic design here to talk about…

I’m a big believer in sketching your quilt top prior to sewing your first stitch. Here are some of the benefits as I see it: It’ s good for your brain. Studies show that there are cognitive benefits to drawing and doodling. You can sort through a lot of issues you might encounter when assembling…

Question: What do you mean by ‘reverse-engineering’, and why would I want to do that? Answer: I’ll admit: I’m not drawn to quilting because I’m one of those creative, artistic, talented types. I love quilting because I love puzzles, math, color, history, and building stuff. I’m not great at coming up with new and amazing…

Okay, so you’ve decided to make a quilt for yourself. Now the question is, what size should you make it? You need to decide this before you do anything else, because the size you choose will affect how much fabric you buy, how much getting it quilted will cost, how long it will take to…

Below is a graph of some of the standard North American mattress sizes, and a range of lengths and widths for appropriately sized quilts. There is no right or wrong size for a quilt. It all comes down to personal preference. It is important to note that after your quilt top is quilted, you may…

My mother is a great seamstress. When I was a kid, she sewed countless dresses for my sisters and me. Every trip we took, every wedding we went to, every high school dance, every Christmas, I had a new dress made for me by her. I am very fortunate. But I’ll admit that every once…